Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-04


cIF1IsE N cAMP-A PROPOSED CAMP FOR PRACTICAL
INSTRUCTION.
With the exception, perhaps of the citizens who
were financially Interested in the matter, no per-
soas watched with greater interest the propress of
the late National Drill than the officers OF the reg
ular Army who are stationed at the cauital. A
large part OF the general public still regards the
militia as play soldiers to a certain extent,
banded together for social benefits and for the
purposes OF parade and show without having any
real connection with the military defensive
strength OF the country. Regular Army officers
realize that in the time of war of revolution the
National Guard viii constitute the main defense
OF the country and that the numerically insignif-
cant L. =. Army Will be able to afford but SLIGHT
protection Many officers at Washington have for
several years done all in their power TO influence
the government 70 recognize the National Guard
BY putting IL on sounder military footing, both
as TO organization and discipline. They were,
therefore as stated. particularly interested in the
National Drill A STAR reporter talked with a
number OF them yesterday and to-day, and with
out exception they spoke OF the drill very
creiitable affair, and emphatically expressed the
opanfon that Its effect Will be very beneficial and
pronounced. and will pave the way TO an annual
national elcampment.
ADsUTANr GEN. DRUMS OPINION.
Adiutant Gen. Drum said 81 watched the drill
with great deal of interest, and consider 10 a
success. There were many points TO be criticised,
but many others to be commended The drill
ance OF those who participated was unexcelled
The camp discipline was, however, not OF the best
Guard duty was little slack, and there was too
much publicity, but the men undoubtedly We're
greatly benefited by their camp experience, and
went away a good deal better informed about
many things than when they came. never saw
such excellent drilling as was exhibited. saw
some OF the prize companies drill, and In my
The Lomax Rifles. The Toledo Cadets made
q good impression upon the public. but
they did not drin tactics. All their movements
IlraHyy fVVn rity
thaa caught the public but not the Judges, who
were looking for excellence from strictly MILL
tary point OF view. think the drill will tend TO
increase public interest In National Guard matters
70 the end of obtaining the financial support OF
militia encampment held In the vicinity OF Wash
fngtOn under the direction OF the Government and
tho soldiers who take part in it paid regular
salary by the Government during the time they
are in camp. Similar encampmentS should be held
al over the country by grouping the States The
Washington encampment might include New
Virginia. Then the New England States could
hold q similar encampment in Massachusetts,, and
so on with the western and southern states. We
are bound TO come to some such arrangement, and
regard the National Drill as move in the right
direction, In that 1t mas tendency TO arouse the
people must not look upon the National Guard aS
the militia Of fifty years ago, armed with corn
stalk guns ana pumpkin drums. They must re-
gard IL as the buiwark OF defense to the country"
Assistant Ad1utant General keltOn, who has
given considerable attention to militia matters
with care spoke In the same manner.
WHAT GIN. KKLrON SAYS
II regard the drill as q great success" he said
IN answer to THE STAR reporters question, sand
am sure that the public-spirited committee will
be fully recOmpenSed for their financial loss when
they see the good effects the drill will have In
years to come We are bound to have the
National Guard under the protection and direc-
ton OF the National Government. The National
Drill was q splendid starter. IL awakened public
interest, and whatever the public wants it will
get So that as means OF bringing matters
10 the attention OF Congress, with a view
OF securing needed legislation, backed by
the general public, the drlll cannot be considered
other than highly successful. The encampment
on the Monument grounds was not all that it
should have been There was TOO much publicity,
and the men were undergoing continual ordeal
Of dress parade. hope TO see the time, not many
years distant, when there Will be annual en-
campment here not on the Monument grounds nor
In the White Lot, but In retired locality, where
tine public cannot well Obtrude itself. The men
VIII not come TO find everything prepared for
them but Will be compelled 10 go into camp In the
same way as they would in the field in earnest
pitch their own tents, get their own fuel and
should be compelled to strike camp once or twice
during eneampment and go on short
mar march and return, AMI again go
Will have to do some day. non-miiitary
man cannot appreciate the benefits OF even a
weeks experience in camp. venture TO say that
not man who was in Camp George Washington
went away without having learned great deal.
lie SOW many things 10 90 and many to avoid.
garted but as good beginning. IL may take two
or three more similar affairs. with fancy drills and
q high board fence with admission, but they will
gradually give place 10 the proper camp. 1
never saw such excellent drilling
exhibited last week The cadets at West Point
cannot show anything ike such proficiency. They
drill well enough Tor practical purposes, and de-
vote more attention TO becoming proficient in
what Will be actually required or them on the
held The sooner our legislators come TO real
Ting sense Of the necessity of helping the National
Guard the better ii will be for the country"
OTHER OFFICERS OF SIMILAR MIND.
Orfcers on Gen. Sheridans staff, Capt. Taylor,
the secretary OF Wars military secretary, and
many others who were questioned on the matter
expressed exactly similar opinions.
Real Estate Sales.
Wescott, Wilcox & Wine report the following
sales recently made: For Mrs. Mary Sherman TO
VIM ONei, house and two lots on street. be-
tween 2lst and I'D streets; $500. For George j.
johnson to j. f. Whiteside, house on Pennsylvania
avenue, between 19tn and both streets; sI35OO.
For Thomas W. Johnson to VI. Doolittle house
and two loG5 on III street, between 10th and 2Ist
streets, $1,000 For DIR. j. b. Moore 10 DIR. j. X.
Walton, house on Pennsylvania avenue, between
18th and 10th streets; $1,000 For Thomas Z.
Wagganan 10 A. l. Phillips, lot on street. be-
tween 2lst and I'D streets; s3,51- For George j.
Johnson 70 MeSsrs. Byrum 6 Thomas, lot 10Th
street. between and 1 streets; $500. For C.
Wilmer 10 MIS- Mankin, house On Ill street, be-
tween I'D and I'D streets; s., 100 For o. p.
Dom 10 j. IL. JOchum, lot on ) street, between
9th anc 10th streets; $3.50 For Capt. Francis
Ramsay 10 w. W. WetZei, lot on g street, between
21sI and 22d streets; 81 So For q. j. Mueller
70 l. j. Bryant and Mr. HiZen, pit lot >, So. 6lS;
$a6Oa20- For Mrs Ii. l. BONNER 10 j. Maury
Dove, lot near 21st street ON y street; s45lO For
J. b. Moore 10 Geo. j. Johnson. three houses on
10th street, between Ii and streets; $3.50. For
j. Maury Dove TO :. W. +. Draper. lot y street,
near list street; s., 13o. For q. X. Newman TO A.
B. Hines, lot 2, Sd ~ Sl,sU0. For Commodore
EaSby 10 Major Moore, property at the corner OF
I'D and streets; 5000 For j. E Libby to John
Aeany, property on nth street, near / street;
$500. For g " Moore 10 y. W. BdidOn, pit. lot
8. Sd 81; sl,2OO. For DR.. Reyburn To E. j. Han
nan, lot 4. So. 80; $3.50. For A. Miller G.. A.
Gustln, lot on Virginia avenue. between 2lSt and
Id streets; sl.2u0- For %. +. Dom TO Vim. Cad
Cis, lot Oh Attn street, between East Capitol and
"A streets; s., O64 For johnson a. Wine TO ThOS.
keedy, SIX lots at Hyattsville; si,oOo.
The Street ImprOvements-Why h IL!
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
notice that IN the list OF street improvements
published In The STAR OF the 2d the kind OF pave.
ment for South and East Washington is specified
while that for the northwest is not. / infer how
ever, from the fact that MeSSrs. CRAWFORD Barber
Co are the contractors Tor the northwest as well
a. IrUIn t"rIuer experience that the payemtnts in
the fsVOred northwest are 10 DC wholly or mainly
IT, sheet pavement Of asphalt its substitute
The cOal-tar dstllAte, while stated llrs, pro.
portion OF that Ia the south anu east /, To be as
plait blocks. was the case last year. WHY Is il
that this distinction h bet ween the seCionse
And why Tue omission 10 state the Kind 70 be laid
fl the JrthwesJ as well as elsewhere? While me
book pavement Is very good so long as il lasts
when the blocks become worn or broken there is
way TO repair IL but 10 take up the blocks and
lay IL anew, at the same cost Us the original On